JP4418044B2 - Method for displaying characters in a digital font, method for defining characters in a digital font, and method for generating characters in a digital font - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for generating a character, and more particularly to a method for generating a multi-master type face including a Kanji character.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A set of characters having a particular design is called a “type face”. For example, digital typefaces, such as PostScript ™ products available from Adobe Systems, Inc. in San Jose, California, typically have instructions for rendering a character in a particular font. The term “font” means an instance of a typeface, such as a specific weight (weight) and point size, for example. The term “character” means any form of letters, numbers, symbols, ideographs, and the like.
[0003]
Many typefaces have been developed for phonetic characters, but very few typefaces have been developed for ideographic systems. In most ideographic systems, the number of characters is very large, the form of each character is different, and the characters are structurally complex. The most common ideographic character currently used is the Kanji character. Kanji characters are used in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia. There are typically several thousand Kanji characters as opposed to phonograms that typically do not exceed 100 characters (including upper and lower case letters of the same letter). Furthermore, in contrast to phonograms, where most characters have only 2 or 3 strokes, the 2000 most used Kanji characters each have an average of about 11 strokes each. A certain character has 60 or more strokes.
[0004]
Because of the large number of characters and their complexity, the development of Kanji typefaces, ie, at least the commonly used Kanji character typefaces, is a time consuming and laborious process.
[0005]
One conventional method for generating Kanji characters requires a set of line components, each having a predetermined size and orientation. Each Kanji character is generated by placing a predetermined line component at a predetermined position. However, this method is limited to creating characters consisting of specific line components. Therefore, typefaces are limited to a single font.
[0006]
A more recent method of generating Kanji characters uses a multi-master typeface. Prior to developing a multi-master typeface, typefaces (whether for kanji or phonetic characters) are typically typically, for example, medium, bold, bold, etc. Only had several separate fonts. The user has limited available choices or has had to use artificial techniques to make existing fonts bold, thin, enlarged or reduced. However, such artificial techniques often created unintended characters with anomalies or unaesthetic features.
[0007]
The multi-master typeface allows a user to create a myriad of fonts by setting font design variables that define font characteristics such as width, weight (weight), and dimensions. The user can generate fonts by interpolating between various master fonts. The font design or font design variable is used to determine the relative weight of the master character in each composite character. Multiple Master Typefaces are described in US Pat. No. 4,933,866 (in the case of phonetic characters), which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0008]
However, multi-master typefaces allow users to create Kanji characters in a variety of fonts, but creating Kanji typefaces is still a time consuming and laborious process for font developers. is there. In fact, this problem is only increased for multi-master typefaces because the entire font must be generated for each master font.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an improved method for generating a multi-master type face including kanji characters by eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art as described above. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for displaying a master of a digital font character. A shape type and position are identified for each element in the character. A glyph set is provided for each shape type, and each glyph set includes a plurality of different base glyphs. For each element in the character, a weighting factor is determined for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, and a composite element is created from the base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type Is done. The relative contribution of each base glyph to the composite element is determined by the weighting factor determined for that element and the base glyph. The composite element is placed at the identified position and displays the character.
[0011]
Implementation of the invention can include the following aspects. When creating a composite character, it is possible to interpolate between base glyphs in a glyph set based on a weighting factor or extrapolate based on that. At least one weight factor can be derived from a weight value assigned to a subset of base glyphs in the glyph set, and a plurality of weight factors can be derived from at least one design axis variable. It is possible to derive. The character can be a Kanji character.
[0012]
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for defining a master of a digital font. A shape type and position are identified for each element in the character. A glyph set is provided for each shape type, and each glyph set includes a plurality of different base glyphs. For each element in the character, at least one weighting factor is determined, which represents the relative contribution to at least one composite element of the base glyphs in the glyph set for that element's shape type. The shape type, position, and weighting factor for each element of the character are stored in a non-volatile storage device (storage device). These steps are repeated for each character in the master font.
[0013]
Implementations of the invention can include the following aspects. These steps can be repeated for each master font in the multi-master typeface. A weighting factor can be determined for each base glyph in the glyph set for each element. The weighting factor can represent two or more relative contributions of the base glyph to the composite element.
[0014]
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for displaying an instance of a digital font character. A first composite element is generated from a first plurality of base glyphs for each element of the first master character, and a second composite element is generated from a second plurality of base glyphs for each element of the second master character. The first and second master characters are combined to generate an instance of the character.
[0015]
Implementations of the invention can include the following aspects. The first and second plurality of base glyphs can be selected from the same set of glyphs. When generating each first composite element, a first plurality of weighting factors are defined for each base glyph in the glyph set, and each base glyph in the glyph set is generated when generating each second composite element. A second plurality of weighting factors for can be defined. When creating a composite character, it is possible to calculate a new weighting factor for each base glyph in the glyph set from the weighting factor for that base glyph from the first and second plurality of weighting factors.
[0016]
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for displaying a digital font character. A shape type and position are identified for each element in the character. A glyph set is provided for each shape type, and each glyph set includes a plurality of different base glyphs. The following steps are performed for each element in the character. That is, a first weighting factor is received for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, a second weighting factor is received for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, and the A third weighting factor is determined for each base glyph in the glyph set for the element shape type. The third weighting factor is calculated from the first and second weighting factors. Then, for each element in the character, a composite element is formed from the base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type. The relative contribution of each base glyph to a composite element is determined by a third weighting factor determined for that element. The composite element is placed at the identified position to display the master of the character.
[0017]
Implementations of the invention can include the following aspects. The third weighting factor can be a weighted average of the first and second weighting factors. The weighted average can be determined by font design variables.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Characters are potentially large, but are composed of a finite number of graphic elements, some of which may overlap. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a kanji character 10 (which is actually an unreal character for convenience of explanation) has two diagonal slashes 12 and 13, a horizontal line 14, a rectangle 15, and a fishhook-shaped element. 16. Other graphic elements such as vertical strokes, dots, and more complex elements can be used to generate other Kanji characters. In general, graphic elements appearing in Kanji characters can be classified into about 100 shapes. The majority of Kanji characters can be generated from these shapes. Of course, each element in the illustrated kanji character 10 has a different shape, but some kanji characters include a plurality of elements having the same shape.
[0019]
Each element can consist of one or more strokes. For example, the horizontal line 14 in the Chinese character 10 is a single stroke, but the rectangle 15 below the horizontal line 14 can be composed of four strokes. The fishhook-shaped element 16 can be written in either a single stroke or two strokes and is used as an exemplary element from the Chinese character 10 in the following description.
[0020]
Referring to FIG. 3, the present method uses a glyph library 40, which makes it possible to generate kanji characters with a myriad of fonts. The glyph library 40 has a glyph set 42 for each shape that is predicted to appear in the Kanji typeface. The glyph library 40 can have about 100 glyph sets 42, eg, 130 glyph sets, although more or fewer glyph sets can be used in the glyph library 40. In particular, the glyph library 40 includes a glyph set 42a for a diagonal slash such as element 12, for example, a glyph set 42b for a diagonal slash such as element 13, for example a glyph set 42c for a horizontal line such as element 14, for example A glyph set 42 d for a rectangle such as the element 15, for example, a glyph set 42 e for a hook-shaped element such as the element 16 is provided. Each glyph set 42 has one or more base glyphs 44. The various base glyphs 44 identify the extreme variations that can be used for that element. For example, elements may vary in curvature, height, width, weight, taper. Although 2 to 32 base glyphs provide a sufficient range of variations, it is possible to have just one or more than 32 base glyphs in a single glyph set. In short, the relationship of base glyphs to elements is similar to the master's relationship to characters, and individual instances of a character can be constructed by compositing masters, while individual instances of elements are It can be constructed by synthesizing a base glyph.
[0021]
Referring to FIG. 4, the glyph set 42e includes base glyphs 44-1, 44-2, 44-3,. . . , 44-16. For example, the base glyph 44-9 is highly curved, while the base glyph 42-2 is perpendicular and the base glyph 44-3 is thick while the base glyph 44-4 is thin.
[0022]
Classification of shapes used in Kanji characters and creation of base glyphs for each shape can be done by programmers and associated font element developers before distributing software to generate multi-master typefaces. is there. Once the glyph library is created, the font designer can start creating a master font. Referring to FIG. 2A, a method 20 performed by a computer that generates a master font containing kanji characters is shown. The method begins by searching for a glyph library in the computer's memory (step 22). As described above, the glyph library includes a set of base glyphs for each of approximately 100 shapes in the typeface. Accordingly, the font designer determines the shape and position of the element in the particular character (step 24). Default values for this shape and position of the element can be created by the font element developer at the same time the base glyph is created. On the other hand, the font designer can select a shape from the menu or palette and then drag the shape to a predetermined position.
[0023]
Once the shape and position of the element is determined, a set of weighting factors is generated for that element (step 26). Each weighting factor is associated with one of the base glyphs for the identified shape of the element. For example, the fishhook-shaped element 16 includes 16 base glyphs 44-1, 44-2, 44-3,. . . , 44-16 corresponding to 16 weighting factors a ₁ , A ₂ , A _Three ,. . . , A ₁₆ May have. These weighting factors are used when generating a character, as will be described below. In short, the weighting factor represents the influence of each base glyph relative to other base glyphs in the composite (composite) element. The weighting factors can be normalized so that the total weighting factor for each element is equal to 100%.
[0024]
The step of determining the shape and position of the element and the step of generating a weighting factor are performed for each element in the character. Since a weighting factor is assigned to each element in a particular character, the character can be displayed and viewed by the font designer (step 28), and the weighting factor can be modified. When final values of the weighting factors are selected for the character, they are stored in non-volatile memory with the identified position and shape to form a data structure 54 (see FIG. 5) representing the master character. (Step 29). These steps are repeated for each character for a particular master font. The method can end at this point and the data structure 52 (see FIG. 5) stores the master font. Further, these steps can be repeated for each master font, in which case the method can end with a data structure 50 (see FIG. 5) that stores the completed multi-master typeface. Is possible.
[0025]
Referring to FIG. 2B, to display a character (either a master or an instance of a character interpolated from a master character), the base glyphs in the glyph set are combined to form a composite for each individual element in the character ( A composite element is generated (step 30). For example, the fishhook-shaped element 16 may include base glyphs 44-1, 44-2,. . . , 44-16 is formed as a composite. The combination is performed using the selected weighting factor to determine the relative contribution of the base glyph to the composite element. Various composite elements are superimposed to generate a character (step 32) and to display the character (step 34).
[0026]
If an instance of a character is to be generated by interpolating between two masters, several additional steps are performed. First, the user sets font design variables to define font properties (step 36). The font design variable represents the relative contribution of the master to the character instance. A font design variable can be thought of as the distance along the design axis between two master fonts. The computer interpolates between the masters (step 38). Interpolation between master fonts can be performed element by element. In particular, it is possible to generate a new set of weighting factors for a new character by averaging the weighting factors of the master character. The average weighting is controlled by font design variables. The new weighting factor is used in step 30.
[0027]
Referring to FIG. 5, the digital typeface 50 can include a plurality of master fonts 52, such as thin fonts and thick fonts. Each master font 52 has a master character 54 for each character, and each master character 54 has an entry 56 for each element in that character. Each entry 56 has a shape name 60 for that element, which serves as a reference to the appropriate set of glyphs in the glyph library. Each entry further has a position 62 of that element in that character (typically xy coordinates) and a weighting factor 64 for that element at that position.
[0028]
Referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of elements are combined to display thin and bold master characters 10a and 10b for the thin and bold master fonts, respectively. For example, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the case of the fishhook shape element 16a in the fine character 10a of the fine character master font, each base glyph (44-1, 44-2, 44-) in the glyph set 42e (see FIG. 4). 3, ..., 44-16) with one weighting factor (a ₁ , A ₂ , A _Three ,. . . , A ₁₆ ) Exists. Similarly, for the fishhook shape element 16b in the bold character 10b of the bold master font, one weight coefficient b for each base glyph. ₁ , B ₂ , B _Three ,. . . , B ₁₆ Is present. When designing a new master, the font designer can determine the x and y position and weight of the element in relation to other elements in the character and to obtain an aesthetically pleasing element in the master font. Coefficients may be manipulated.
[0029]
These weighting factors can be expressed in various formats. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to provide one weighting factor for each base glyph. On the other hand, the relationship between base glyphs can be thought of as a multidimensional glyph array, where different glyphs are located at the end points of the design axis. In this case, the weight coefficient can be stored as a font design variable. For example, the 16 base glyphs 44-1, 44-2,. . . 44-16 can define four design axes corresponding to the weight, curvature, height, and width of the fishhook-shaped element. Known transformations can be used to translate font design variables into weighting factors.
[0030]
It is also possible to assign weights to glyph subsets within the glyph set. For example, a weight value can be assigned to a pair of base glyphs. This weight value represents the transitional shape value between the two base glyphs. For example, one glyph pair may match a bold base glyph with a thin base glyph, while another glyph pair may match a narrow base glyph with a wide base glyph. Weight values can be assigned to glyph pairs to result in an interpolated glyph having an intermediate shape. The weighting factors for individual base glyphs can be derived from the weight values assigned for glyph pairs.
[0031]
In order to display the character, an instance of each individual element in the Chinese character 10 is generated. In particular, a composite or combined element is generated by interpolating between base glyphs in the glyph set according to the assigned weighting factor. For example, in the thin character 10a, the L-shaped element 16a includes base glyphs 44-1, 44-2,. . . , 44-16, and the contribution of each base glyph is a weight coefficient a ₁ , A ₂ , A _Three ,. . . , A ₁₆ Determined by. Conventional interpolation procedures such as image morphing can be performed to generate composite elements from the base glyph. Each composite element is then placed at the location 62 identified in entry 56. These elements can be superimposed and contoured and filled to display the character.
[0032]
On the other hand, an instance of an element can be generated by extrapolation. Interpolation and extrapolation (extrapolation) are mathematical procedures that perform equivalent transformations, and extrapolation can be thought of as assigning a negative weighting factor to the negative of the base glyphs. is there. Extrapolation may produce elements with undesired features, but it gives a final shape that may have greater diversity.
[0033]
Once the master character is generated, the multi-master typeface can be sent to the user for use in other applications such as document processing. The user can generate a myriad of fonts using the multi-master typeface. The user sets font design variables in step 36 through a conventional interactive interface. The font design variable can be converted to a normalized value (w) between 0 and 1.0.
[0034]
When the font design variable is set, an interpolated character 10c is generated by calculating a new weighting factor for each element. In particular, the new weighting factor can be a weighted average of the weighting factors from the master font. The fishhook shape element 16a of the thin character 10a is a weighting factor a. ₁ , A ₂ , A _Three ,. . . , A ₁₆ And the fishhook-shaped element 16b of the bold character 10b has a weighting factor b ₁ , B ₂ , B _Three ,. . . , B ₁₆ , A new weighting factor c for the composite (composite) element 16c of the composite (composite) character 10c. ₁ , C ₂ , C _Three ,. . . , C ₁₆ Calculate In particular, the new weighting factor is ₁ = W · a ₁ + (1-w) b ₁ , C ₂ = W · a ₂ + (1-w) b ₂ , C _Three = W · a _Three + (1-w) b _Three ,. . . , C ₁₆ = W · a ₁₆ + (1-w) b ₁₆ Can be calculated by: These new weighting factors c are then ₁ , C ₂ , C _Three ,. . . , C ₁₆ Are used in step 30 for image interpolation. Finally, the composite (composite) character 10c is displayed in step 34. Of course, it is possible to perform interpolation between more than two masters.
[0035]
The program offers the possibility to generate new master fonts faster and easier. For example, all of the base glyphs in a glyph set can be associated with a pair of bold and thin glyphs. To generate a master with a heavier weight, the font designer can simply copy the same weight value representing the weight characteristics of the element to all characters in the master font. This gives a “rough draft” of the font. The font designer can then “fine tune” the font by manipulating individual elements in individual characters to provide a more aesthetically pleasing typeface.
[0036]
Furthermore, this program enables the user to develop a completely new character. For example, the user can select a shape from a menu or palette, drag it to a position, and assign a weighting factor to each base glyph in the glyph set for that shape, to assign each new character Can be created. The new character can then be added to the master font. Therefore, this program can be used as an end user tool for developing an external character such as a company logo or a stylized form of a standard Kanji character. To simplify the process of developing a new character, it is possible to automatically derive the weighting factor of the element in the new character shape from the character weighting factor already present in the font, and It is possible to prohibit modification of the weighting factor. On the other hand, the user can be given access to only a few shapes.
[0037]
Referring to FIG. 7, the method of the present invention can be implemented with memory 74 and microprocessor 76. The memory and microprocessor may be components of a general purpose computer 72 of conventional configuration in computer system 70. The computer system 70 can further include a mass storage device 78, an output device 80 such as a display screen or laser printer, print engine, phototype setter or laser film recorder, and an input device 82 such as a keyboard or mouse. The microprocessor 76 is controlled by a font rendering program 86 stored in the memory 74. Font rendering program 86 has access to glyph library 40 and typeface 50. Typeface 50 is stored in a machine-readable format that includes a set of instructions that can be executed by a program for rendering characters on output device 80. On the other hand, the processor and the memory can be incorporated in a peripheral device such as a Postscript laser printer.
[0038]
The methods described herein can be implemented in the form of hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof, or a computer program product stored in a computer readable storage device. Storage devices suitable for storing the computer program include all forms of non-volatile memory including semiconductor memory devices, magnetic disks, MO disks, and optical disks.
[0039]
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention should not be limited to these specific examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Of course, it is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an unreal kanji character.
FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a character according to the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a character according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a glyph library used in the method of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
4 is a schematic diagram showing glyph sets from the glyph library of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data structure representing a multi-master type face.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating kanji characters generated and displayed in various fonts according to the method of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a computer system that can be used to implement the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Kanji characters
12,13 Diagonal slash
14 horizontal lines
15 rectangle
16 Fishhook-shaped elements
40 glyph library
42 Glyph Set
44 Base Glyph (Basic Glyph)
50 Digital Typeface
52 Master Font
54 Master Character
56 entries
60 Shape name
62 position

Claims (15)

In a method for displaying characters in a digital font,
Identifying the shape type and position for each element in the character;
Given a glyph set for each shape type, each glyph set contains a number of different base glyphs,
For each element in the character, determine a weighting factor for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type;
For each element in the character, create a composite element from the base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, and the relative contribution of each base glyph to the composite element is determined for that element and its base glyph Determined by the weighting factor,
Placing the composite element at the identified position and displaying the character;
A method characterized by that.   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a composite element is created by interpolating between base glyphs in the glyph set based on the weighting factor.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein when creating a composite element, extrapolation from the base glyph in the glyph set is performed based on the weighting factor.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein a weight value is assigned to a subset of base glyphs in the glyph set to obtain an interpolated glyph having an intermediate shape, and the weighting factor is determined from the weight value.  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighting factor is converted from a stored design variable.  The method of claim 1, wherein the character is a Kanji character. In a method for defining a digital font character,
(A) identifying the shape type and position for each element in the character;
(B) Give a glyph set for each shape type, each glyph set including a plurality of different base glyphs,
(C) determining, for each element in the character, at least one weighting factor representing a relative contribution to at least one complex element of the base glyphs in the glyph set for that element's shape type;
(D) storing the shape type, position, and weighting factor for each element of the character in the non-volatile storage unit;
(E) Repeat steps (a) to (d) for each character in the font.
A method characterized by that.   8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising repeating steps (a) to (e) for each master font in the multi-master typeface.   The method of claim 7, wherein a weighting factor is determined for each base glyph in the glyph set for each element.   8. The method of claim 7, wherein the weighting factor represents two or more relative contributions of the base glyph to the composite element. In a method for generating characters in a digital font,
For each element of the first character, a first compound element is generated using a plurality of weight coefficients from a plurality of stored base glyphs,
For each element of the second character corresponding to each element of the first character, a second composite element is generated using a plurality of weight coefficients from a plurality of stored base glyphs,
A new plurality of weighting factors are calculated from the first plurality of weighting factors and the second plurality of weighting factors, and a composite element generated using the new plurality of weighting factors is assigned to each element. Correspondingly combined to generate the character,
A method characterized by that.   12. The method of claim 11, wherein for each element, the first and second plurality of base glyphs are selected from the same set of glyphs. In a method for generating characters in a digital font,
Identify the shape type and position for each element in the character;
Given a glyph set for each shape type, each glyph set includes multiple different base glyphs,
For each element in the character, receive a first weighting factor in a separate digital font stored for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type;
For each element in the character, receive a second weighting factor in yet another digital font stored for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type;
For each element in the character, determine a third weighting factor for each base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, wherein the third weighting factor is derived from the first and second weighting factors. Calculated,
For each element in the character, create a composite element from the base glyph in the glyph set for that element's shape type, and the relative contribution of each base glyph to the composite element is determined for that element Determined by the third weighting factor,
Placing the composite element at the identified position and displaying the character;
A method characterized by that.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third weighting factor is a weighted average of the first and second weighting factors.   15. The method of claim 14, wherein the weighted average is determined by a font design variable.

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